Haarlem, The Netherlands, February 6th 2006: Fast growing publisher Lighthouse Interactive and Prague based developer 7FX today announced that their highly anticipated logical/puzzle game for PC â€˜Loco Maniaâ€™, has reached gold status and will begin shipping throughout Europe on February 24th, 2006.

Loco Mania is a unique, fast moving, logical strategy game that puts you in charge of managing an entire railway network. Players have to control switches, semaphores and train directions to get the trains through the system as quickly and efficiently as possible. Each level will put players through a multitude of tasks from getting trains to their destination on time to guiding trains with hazard laden cargo safely home. Successfully clearing the trains through the railway system improves the players score and unlocks maps to take the game through progressively challenging levels. Loco Mania will feature 12 maps each inspired by various European landscapes designed to provide a unique gameplay experience. Gameplay modes include Time Attack, Check Point and Free Run. The faster you complete the challenges the higher you score. So stay on Track!

Vladimir Sedivy, CEO of 7FX said: â€œLoco Mania is great fun to play and we had a great time developing it.â€ He went on to say: â€œWe have also been delighted by the cooperation with the experienced team of Lighthouse Interactive. It made such a big difference in the development process and it shows in the quality of the final product.â€

Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive, said: â€œI have been gripped by Loco Maniaâ€™s extremely addictive gameplay. It is a unique approach to the genre combining brain teasing puzzles and strategy with gorgeous graphics. Itâ€™s a pleasure to bring this game to the mass market.â€

Loco Mania is published in English, German, French and Spanish. Further localized versions, such as Polish, are currently in development.

Game Features

â€¢ Multiple game modes each with their own unique challenges.
â€¢ All train models are based on real trains with 26 locos (steam-powered, electric and diesel) and 36 carriages.
â€¢ Loco Mania contains over 12 different maps inspired by different European landscapes each with an increasing degree of difficulty.
â€¢ Gameplay allows you to control switches, semaphores and directions of all trains.
â€¢ A unique Inspection mode allows you to survey your tracks and the various landscapes from a 3D view point on top of your train.
â€¢ Beautifully detailed 3D environments with effects such as; steam, chimney smoke, rotating wheels, real time lighting and shadows.
â€¢ Simulation of weather effects and daylight, faint rain, snowing, streetlights, low-altitude clouds hovering above the landscape.
â€¢ Realistic sounds for all ingame objects and addictive background music for each map.
â€¢ Includes a beginner friendly tutorial to teach you the elementary controls and strategy of Loco Mania.

About 7FX

Located in Prague in the Czech Republic, 7FX started its activities in October 1999 as a project team of Czech ICT Company I.C.C.C. and at the beginning of 2001 a subsidiary company 7FX Ltd. was established. Their first title: Team Factor, running on the Lightforce engine, would sell over hundreds of thousand copies worldwide. Not much later after the release of Team Factor, the experienced team started their work on a new in-house engine that will power a new generation of PC games, including Loco Mania. Find our more about 7FX at at: www.7fx.com.

About Lighthouse Interactive

Lighthouse Interactive is a fast growing publisher of interactive entertainment with offices in The Netherlands and Canada. Lighthouseâ€™s upcoming titles include the critically acclaimed adventure title â€˜Keepsakeâ€™, the fast mech shooter â€˜War World: Tactical Combatâ€™ and the much anticipated space strategy hybrid â€˜Sword of the Starsâ€™. Staffed with industry veterans and with offices in key locations around the world, Lighthouse is a strong alternative for developers looking to bring their products to a worldwide audience.